Warrick, Pollack Updates From Hobson

[HoosierCat]

from da site:

Look for the Peter Warrick situation to get resolved fairly quickly, but not until after the Bengals play their preseason opener Friday night against the Super Bowl champion Patriots.

The first-round holdout of David Pollack is also still unresolved with the sides apparently still trying to iron out language. They may be giving themselves the weekend to finish it off with the Bengals not scheduled to practice again until Sunday.

Warrick agent Drew Rosenhaus had no comment Thursday regarding his client, whom has indicated he won’t take a pay cut from the Bengals as he tries to come back from a knee injury.

But there are indications things are moving quickly. Although the Bengals apparently decided against a trade and approached Warrick about a pay cut, Rosenhaus fast-forwarded the process by sending clear signals through the media to other teams that maybe a trade could be possible.

But a trade would be more plausible after the first weekend of games when teams see what they have at receiver. Plus, the Bengals will have a better idea of their own receiver corps that includes draft picks Chris Henry and Tab Perry, and they may decide they can move on without Warrick.

Another reason it probably won’t drag on is because the Bengals don’t want to get hit with a grievance. The Bengals haven’t cleared him medically even though he says his own doctor has cleared him and he feels ready to play.

“If a player was able to perform and he was given injured status, it could become a grievance,” said NFPA general counsel Richard Bertherlsen. “The medical evidence is I’m sure what would decide it for the arbiter.”

But neither side clearly wants that to happen.

One thing that won’t happen is Warrick being traded to the Steelers. The Bengals have long had a dread of trading within their division.

I still doubt they could trade Warrick for anything of real value, at best a conditional second day pick...even that seems iffy.

As for Pollack...now it's "language"?!?!? Who's doing these negotiations, Bill Clinton? Well, it depends on what the meaning of incentive is... C'mon, Pollack, get your agent's arse in gear!

[schweinhart]

Naw man, the agents got the Brown Clan right where they want them.

Now they'll ask for more money than Travis Johnson

And when they get that, they'll say Pollack has decided to re-enter the draft because he doesn't want to play for a team that has done him so dirty.

Those evil, evil agents.

[HoosierCat]

Naw man, the agents got the Brown Clan right where they want them.

Now they'll ask for more money than Travis Johnson

And when they get that, they'll say Pollack has decided to re-enter the draft because he doesn't want to play for a team that has done him so dirty.

Those evil, evil agents.

A "source with vague knowledge of the negotiations" (he lives in Kentucky) has told me the language dispute boils down to a clause in the contract that requires Pollack to "get his ass to Georgetown." Pollack objected to the use of profanity in his contract. His (evil) agent, Ken Kremer, suggested they substitute the word "posterior," a compromise reluctantly agreed to by Katie Blackburn after hurried conversations with her father. However, substituting a 9-letter word for a 3-letter word in the contract caused the paragraph to run over onto another page, and the Bengals' office printer was out of paper. Negotiations are now stalled over who will run out to get a fresh ream of paper, whether it will be bought at Staples or Office Depot, and of course, who will pay for the ream of paper. Kremer has offered to put the paper on his credit card and make the run, but wants compensation for gas and an assurance from the Bengals that they will pay interest charges if he is not reimbursed in time to pay the credit card bill. Katie has countered with an offer to have the Bengals handle the entire transaction, but Kremer will have to come up with 1/100th of the cost of the 100-count ream in cash before printing can commence...

[Ickey44]

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I just don't understand what they're doing with Warrick. If he's healthy and cleared medically just take it slow in practice with him if you're concerned about him coming back a little too soon still.

This shouldn't be about $ because all it does is go directly into the already over-flowing profit tank of the Brown family for this year.

Now if they use that dough and build a practice bubble like they want to then maybe I can understand, maybe.

But it should be about this year and winning and not Mike freakin' cheap a$$ Brown relying on rookies again and looking down the road constantly to the point he's sacrificing odds of a winning season by letting his 2nd best WR go when healthy, simply to save some $.

He owes us fans and the players more than that.

[Kazkal]

I just don't understand what they're doing with Warrick. If he's healthy and cleared medically just take it slow in practice with him if you're concerned about him coming back a little too soon still.

This shouldn't be about $ because all it does is go directly into the already over-flowing profit tank of the Brown family for this year.

Now if they use that dough and build a practice bubble like they want to then maybe I can understand, maybe.

But it should be about this year and winning and not Mike freakin' cheap a$$ Brown relying on rookies again and looking down the road constantly to the point he's sacrificing odds of a winning season by letting his 2nd best WR go when healthy, simply to save some $.

He owes us fans and the players more than that.

I doubt it goes back in to the pocket of the brown family long term,

They have alot of free agents going up after 2006 and alot of key players.

so they'd probbley use any free cap money @ the end of the year to work on getting that done

[membengal]

Well, here's my read on the Warrick thing, nothing hugely original I suppose:

1. He's healthy enough to practice for now, but will he be healthy enough to practice the day after tomorrow? Or three days after that? That is apparently still a huge unknown. Given that uncertainty, 2.2 million is definitely a complication.

2. If they can entice someone to deal for him, somehow, and get anything back, that would be swell.

3. If they cut him and save the $$$ or deal him and save the $$$, I am pretty sure that money will be re-distributed to deal with the extensions they are working on for people like Willie etc.

4. All that said, if Warrick really were healthy enough to practice and keep practicing, keeping his skill set around would be my first choice. The fact that they have held onto him the last two years while he suffers through this rehab tells me that would have been their first choice too. That they have not finally cleared him tells me more about the state of their uncertainty about the long-term prospects of his knee than about any alleged "cheapness". If they were cheap in this instance, they could have off-loaded him long ago, no?

5. I am guessing KW's camp has put a lot of minds at ease on the staff and some of the PW insurance is not as necessary at this point. Back in April though? That question was far more open.

[HoosierCat]

1. He's healthy enough to practice for now, but will he be healthy enough to practice the day after tomorrow? Or three days after that? That is apparently still a huge unknown.

And it will remain a huge unknown until they let him practice. I mean, only one way to answer the question, right?

[slf]

1. He's healthy enough to practice for now, but will he be healthy enough to practice the day after tomorrow? Or three days after that? That is apparently still a huge unknown.

And it will remain a huge unknown until they let him practice. I mean, only one way to answer the question, right?

If he practices one day under his current contract, the Bengals are obligated to pay him for the year - 2.2m. If his knee swells up the next day and he never steps on the field again, they still pay him the full amount.

The Benglas are asking him to share the risk, re-structure, he can have the 2.2m if he plays the bulk of a season (incentives). Otherwise, with the receivers you have on the roster, why take the risk? Peter is special, but is he that special? I guess the Bengals are looking at what they have and saying - no.

[HoosierCat]

If he practices one day under his current contract, the Bengals are obligated to pay him for the year - 2.2m. If his knee swells up the next day and he never steps on the field again, they still pay him the full amount.

So? I mean, this is Warrick's problem how? He has a contract that says he gets paid $2.2 million. He has a highly regarded doctor who says he's ready to go. If Mikey doesn't want to pay the $2.2 million because he's afraid the knee will act up again...and Warrick has already said he isn't taking a pay cut...well, then we are done here, aren't we?

[mtmeece]

I would question the timing of Warrick's ability to return to the practice field just a couple of days before the first pre season game, after all he has been rehabing for quite some time. What are the odds that could happen. At Saturdays mock game Warrick was on the east field for a short time streching and the like, if he was unable to at least be in for a play or two how could he be ready to return on Wednesday.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

If he practices one day under his current contract, the Bengals are obligated to pay him for the year - 2.2m. If his knee swells up the next day and he never steps on the field again, they still pay him the full amount.

So? I mean, this is Warrick's problem how? He has a contract that says he gets paid $2.2 million. He has a highly regarded doctor who says he's ready to go. If Mikey doesn't want to pay the $2.2 million because he's afraid the knee will act up again...and Warrick has already said he isn't taking a pay cut...well, then we are done here, aren't we?

Nope. Not while there is a chance someone like the Eagles will offer us a 6th round or 7th round pick.

Oh, and as for being a "special" receiver, do you consider Marty Booker a "special" player? Because he has been far more productive in the same period as Warrick, and he's a 3rd round pick.

[HoosierCat]

If he practices one day under his current contract, the Bengals are obligated to pay him for the year - 2.2m. If his knee swells up the next day and he never steps on the field again, they still pay him the full amount.

So? I mean, this is Warrick's problem how? He has a contract that says he gets paid $2.2 million. He has a highly regarded doctor who says he's ready to go. If Mikey doesn't want to pay the $2.2 million because he's afraid the knee will act up again...and Warrick has already said he isn't taking a pay cut...well, then we are done here, aren't we?

Nope. Not while there is a chance someone like the Eagles will offer us a 6th round or 7th round pick.

Oh, and as for being a "special" receiver, do you consider Marty Booker a "special" player? Because he has been far more productive in the same period as Warrick, and he's a 3rd round pick.

Where did I say he was "special"? However, this team did clearly miss him last year, especially in the red zone, as well as on special teams.

Any team willing to trade for Warrick woould certainly insist on a complete medical workup first. In other words, there's only a trade if he's healthy...and if he's healthy we should trade him for a 7th round pick???

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

If he practices one day under his current contract, the Bengals are obligated to pay him for the year - 2.2m. If his knee swells up the next day and he never steps on the field again, they still pay him the full amount.

So? I mean, this is Warrick's problem how? He has a contract that says he gets paid $2.2 million. He has a highly regarded doctor who says he's ready to go. If Mikey doesn't want to pay the $2.2 million because he's afraid the knee will act up again...and Warrick has already said he isn't taking a pay cut...well, then we are done here, aren't we?

Nope. Not while there is a chance someone like the Eagles will offer us a 6th round or 7th round pick.

Oh, and as for being a "special" receiver, do you consider Marty Booker a "special" player? Because he has been far more productive in the same period as Warrick, and he's a 3rd round pick.

Where did I say he was "special"? However, this team did clearly miss him last year, especially in the red zone, as well as on special teams.

Any team willing to trade for Warrick woould certainly insist on a complete medical workup first. In other words, there's only a trade if he's healthy...and if he's healthy we should trade him for a 7th round pick???

The question about him being special came from the post prior to yours. As for giving up Warrick if he's healthy enough to pass a physical, well, he is a bust, plain and simple. I'm sorry but a first round wideout who can only break 700 yards in 1 of 5 seasons, and even if you don't count the year on IR, it's still underachieving for a #4 pick. People complain about Washington, but as a #3 guy (Warrick was #1 until we gave up on him and took Chad) he hasn't been that far behind the guy picked 2 rounds ahead of him.

[HoosierCat]

As for giving up Warrick if he's healthy enough to pass a physical, well, he is a bust, plain and simple.

In which case, we should just cut him -- in fact, should have cut him long ago when his cap space would have been useful in free agency. And all this talk of his knee and his salary and who's liable for what if situation X occurs is a big waste of time.

I repeat: we're done here, aren't we? Cut him.

[HairOnFire]

1. He's healthy enough to practice for now, but will he be healthy enough to practice the day after tomorrow? Or three days after that? That is apparently still a huge unknown.

And it will remain a huge unknown until they let him practice. I mean, only one way to answer the question, right?

Perhaps not. Take this for whatever it might be worth but Andy Reid just commented on TO working out by himself and among other things said that the coaches had no problem with the idea as the workouts were far more intense than the ones "normal players" were getting on the practice field. They also had the added benefit of being conducted under far more controlled circumstances. No tangled legs, no bumping from a defender, intense individual scrutiny from coaches and trainers, etc.

[slf]

As for giving up Warrick if he's healthy enough to pass a physical, well, he is a bust, plain and simple.

In which case, we should just cut him -- in fact, should have cut him long ago when his cap space would have been useful in free agency. And all this talk of his knee and his salary and who's liable for what if situation X occurs is a big waste of time.

I repeat: we're done here, aren't we? Cut him.

I am not disagreeing with you, but I suspect the Bengals are biding their time because the bulk of the 2005 cap hit was determined six years ago and is going to be counted no matter if he is here or cut / gone. Since there going to take the hit, might as well wait it out and see what they can make of it in return.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

And shunning the rest of your team some more after shooting out crap about your QB and your RB is really good for team chemistry. FTO!

[membengal]

As for giving up Warrick if he's healthy enough to pass a physical, well, he is a bust, plain and simple.

In which case, we should just cut him -- in fact, should have cut him long ago when his cap space would have been useful in free agency. And all this talk of his knee and his salary and who's liable for what if situation X occurs is a big waste of time.

I repeat: we're done here, aren't we? Cut him.

Yeah, I agree. The only thing I can figure is they don't want to see him in Pittsburgh. But here's the thing. If they think he is dangerous enough that he could hurt the Bengals in a Steelers uniform, then perhaps he should be in a Bengals uniform...

It does make one wonder.

Really hard to figure this one.

As for the Warrick to the Eagles rumors, I am not buying what is being sold there. Let's see, Eagles may not want to risk the two million plus on a gimpy receiver either, and may want him at a reduced rate. I am guessing the relationship they currently have with Warrick's agent (Evil Incarnate (rosenhaus)) won't make that a possibility.

Maybe the eagles are sold on him as is and would trade for him under the existing contract. But if that's the case, why are not the bengals sold on him as is?

Lots of pieces, not many of them seem to fit together.

[HairOnFire]

And shunning the rest of your team some more after shooting out crap about your QB and your RB is really good for team chemistry. FTO!

I wasn't trying to defend TO, and I doubt Reid was either. He was just attempting to explain why TO was working out by himself instead of with the rest of the team. Again, greater control over accidental contact and more intense individual work....things that might apply to the Warrick situation.

[HoosierCat]

As for the Warrick to the Eagles rumors, I am not buying what is being sold there. Let's see, Eagles may not want to risk the two million plus on a gimpy receiver either, and may want him at a reduced rate. I am guessing the relationship they currently have with Warrick's agent (Evil Incarnate (rosenhaus)) won't make that a possibility.

Yup. I don't see any team trading for Warrick unless he would agree to do what he's already told the Bengals he won't do: restructure his deal. All Warrick has to do is sit there and keep saying no until one of two things happens:

1. The date upon which his $2.2 million salary becomes guaranteed comes and goes and the Bengals pay him $2.2 million no matter what he does or doesn't do.

2. He gets cut, immediately becomes a FA, and takes control of where he goes. He may not get a better than that one-year incentive-laden one the Bengals want, but at least he gets to make the choice where to go, and provides no benefit to the management of a club he can't be too happy with right now.